Spray nozzle



July 28, 1964 v. P. BOKA, JR 3,142,306

SPRAY NOZZLE Filed Jan. 7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORN EYS I VICTOR P. BOKA -JB United States Patent 3,142,306 SPRAY NOZZLE Victor P. Bolra, .lxu, Allen Park, Micl1., assignor to Purex Corporation, Ltd, Lakewood, Calif., a corporation of California Filed .lian 7, 1963, Ser. No. 249,845 6 Claims. (Cl. 134-466) This invention relates to spray nozzles and associated equipment particularly adapted and designed for efficiently spray cleaning the interior surfaces of tanks to remove soil and foreign deposits therefrom.

Conventional types of spray nozzles mounted in tanks for purposes of spray cleaning such tanks are so designed that they are in many cases diflicult to position soas to completely spray the upper surface of the tank with cleaning solution, so that various areas of such surface, e.g. areas thereof closely adjacent the nozzle and remote areas of said surface adjacent the corners, are often not contacted at all with the sprayed solution from the nozzle, or such surfaces are insuinciently sprayed to properly remove soil and deposits therefrom.

It is an object of the invention to design and provide a spray nozzle having a spray section comprising series of spray holes, and also a spray nozzle unit including such nozzle and auxiliary elements, which nozzle, when properly mounted on a tank with the spray portion extending into the tank interior, is adapted to emit a series of spray streams so oriented in direction as to form a spray pattern which substantially completely contacts and washes the entire upper surface area of the tank, as well as the sides of the tank, substantially without leaving any uncontacted or untreated top surface areas.

A further object is the provision of a simple spray nozzle, and spray nozzle unit including such spray nozzle in combination with auxiliary elements, such nozzle and unit being designed for mounting readily on a tank with the spray nozzle depending into such tank the proper distance so that all spray holes of the spray section of such nozzle are operative for substantially completely spraying the top surface of said tank.

A still further object is to provide a tank in combination with a spray nozzle or spray nozzle unit as noted above, for cleaning the interior surfaces of said tank.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

The spray nozzle of the invention consists essentially of a tube section, a hollow spray section connected to and in communication with one end of said tube section, and a connecting fitting connected to the other end of said tube section. The spray section of the nozzle comprises an end cap and a plurality of successive hollow spray members positioned between said end cap and the adjacent end of said tube.

According to the invention, each of said spray members has a plurality of sets of peripherally spaced spray holes therein, communicating with the interior of said spray members, each set of peripherally spaced holes being positioned such that the outer ends thereof are in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the spray nozzle, each of said sets of holes being spaced from the adjacent set of holes along the longitudinal axis of said nozzle. In preferred practice the respective adjacent sets of spray holes in each spray member are in staggered relation.

As a particular feature of the invention the holes in each set of peripherally spaced holes in each spray member is inclined at the same acute angle of less than 90 from said longitudinal axis, the holes in each successive spray member, proceeding from the topmost spray member adjacent said tube section to the spray member adjacent said end cap being inclined at a slightly $342,396 Patented July 28, 1964 smaller acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the spray nozzle, than the holes in the preceding spray member, in order to obtain the improved spraying action described hereinafter.

In preferred practice, the spray members of the spray nozzle each have a frusto conical outer surface, the base of each of said conical surfaces being positioned at that end of the cone more closely adjacent to the end cap at the lower end of the spray nozzle. The conical surface of each of the spray members is inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said spray nozzle such that the sets of peripherally spaced holes in each such spray member are positioned normal to an element of the outer conical surface of said spray member.

The spray nozzle described above can be mounted in the top of a tank, either by welding or in any other suitable member, so that the spray nozzle is positioned perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the tank. So mounted, the spray section of the nozzle depends a relatively short distance into the interior of the tank adjacent the top surface thereof. It is particularly important in positioning the spray section of the nozzle within the tank, that the topmost tier or peripheral set of spray holes lies closely adjacent to the upper inside surface of the tank. When properly installed in the tank, and' cleaning liquid is supplied under suitable pressure through the nozzle, the nozzle produces properly oriented spray streams which are projected outwards and upwards. The top surface of the tank is thus blanketed with a pattern of spray which reaches all areas of the top surface and flows down the tank side walls. 7

In certain installations a spray nozzle unit consisting of a spray nozzle as described above, a flange type adapter mounted thereon, and a sleeve connected to the adapter and positioned around and extending axially along the tube section of the nozzle, is advantageously employed. The lower end of the sleeve can be mounted as by welding in the top of the tank to support the spray nozzle, the spray section of which depends into the tank and is positioned therein in the manner previously described. The length of such sleeve can be made adjustable to permit varying lengths of the nozzle spray section to be inserted into the interior of the tank. Also, if desired, the nozzle end cap can be made removable to facilitate cleaning of the nozzle.

Certain preferred embodiments of the invention are described more fully below in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating such embodiments, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a spray nozzle according to the invention, shown partly in section;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the mounting of the spray nozzle of FIG. 1 in a tank, and showing the trajectory of the liquid streams discharged from the nozzle openings;

FIG. 4 is a perspective of the tank-spray nozzle combination illustrated in FIG. 3, showing more clearly the fan shaped spray pattern formed by the oriented streams of cleaning liquid discharged from the spray nozzle;

FIG. 4a illustrates a modification of the invention in the form of a unit wherein the spray nozzle is mounted within a tubular sleeve and adapter assembly, which in turn is mounted on a tank;

FIG. 4b illustrates a modification of the spray nozzle unit or assembly shown in FIG. 4a;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of FIG. 412;

FIG. 6 illustrates a modification, shown partly in section, of the end cap of the spray nozzle of FIG. 1, said modified end cap being removable;

FIG. 7 shows a plan view on line 77 of the bayonet slot-and-pin connection between the end cap and the spray nozzle body of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a detail showing the connection between the adapter and sleeve of the unit shown in FIG. 4a.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the spray nozzle 10 of the invention consists mainly of three parts, a tube section 12, a spray section 14 and a fitting 16 for suitable connection to a pipe or other conduit 38 (see FIG. 3) for conveying cleaning liquid to the spray nozzle.

The spray section 14 is hollow and communicates with the interior of the tubular section 12. The spray section 14 is integrally connected to the end of the tubular section 12, and carries at its opposite end a cap 18 which in the embodiment shown is formed integral with the adjacent spray member 24 of the series of integral spray members 20, 22, and 24 comprising the spray section 14.

It will be seen that the spray members 20, 22 and 24 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, are of frusto conical shape with the base of the cone of each of the conical members 20, 22 and 24 being disposed in the direction of the end cap 18; that is, the base of conical spray member 20 is integrally attached to the small end of the adjacent conical member 22, and the base of conical member 22 is integrally connected to the small end of the nex adjacent conical member 24.

Conical spray member 20 is provided with a number of drilled holes or spray openings 26 therein, conical member 22 likewise has a number of spray openings 28 provided therein, and the last spray member 24 also is provided with a plurality of drilled spray holes 30 therein. The spray holes 26 of spray member 20 are arranged in the form of a number of sets A, B, C, D, E of peripherally disposed spray holes, the discharge ends of the spray holes of each of the respective peripheral sets or tiers of spray holes A, B, C, D, and E being disposed in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis X of the nozzle, and said respective peripherally dis posed sets of spray holes are spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis X of the nozzle. The peripheral set of holes B are preferably staggered with respect to the adjacent set of holes A, and similarly sets C, D and E are preferably staggered with respect to the adjacent sets of holes.

It will be noted that the spray holes 26 of the first or topmost spray member 20 are drilled at an angle to the longitudinal axis X of the nozzle which is less than 90 for the purpose described more fully hereinafter. Such angularity of the holes 26 in the spray member 20 may vary from about 70 to a value approaching, but less than 90". According to preferred practice both from the standpoint of best operating efiiciency and in order to facilitate the manufacture of the spray nozzle of the invention, the angularity of the conical surface of conical member 20 is designed such that the spray holes 26 are disposed normal or perpendicular to an element of the outer surface of conical member 20. Thus, angle L, which represents the angularity of the conical surface of member 20 with respect to the longitudinal axis X, is complementary to, that is, equal to 90 minus the acute angle formed by spray holes 26 with the longitudinal axis X. The second spray member 22 also has a plurality of sets of the peripherally spaced holes 28, shown as two in number and indicated as sets F and G, the outer ends of the spray holes of each set being positioned in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis X of the spray nozzle, the set G being spaced along such longitudinal axis from set F. Holes 28 of the spray member 22 however, are drilled at an angle to the longitudinal axis X slightly smaller than the angle of inclination of the spray holes 26 of spray member 20. Here, also, the holes 28 of spray member 22 are disposed normal to an element of the conical surface of spray member 22, so that angle M illustrating the angularity of such conical member and complementary to said angle of inclination of holes 28, will thus be slightly larger than angle L, the angularity of the first conical member 20. The spray holes in the peripheral set of holes G are preferably staggered with respect to the peripheral set of holes F.

The lowermost conical member 24 of the spray section 14 also is formed with a plurality of sets of peripherally disposed holes 30, as illustrated by the two sets I and K, the discharge openings of the spray holes in each of said sets also being in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis X of the nozzle, said sets of holes I and K being spaced longitudinally of the nozzle. The holes 30 of spray member 24- are inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis X which slightly smaller than the angularity of spray holes 28 of the spray member 22. As in the case of spray members 20 and 22, the holes 30 of spray member 24 are disposed normal to an element of the surface of the conical spray member 24 so that angle N illustrating the angularity of such conical member, and which is complementary to said angle of inclination of holes 30, is somewhat larger than angle M or the angle of inclination of the conical member 22. The spray holes in the peripheral set of holes K, are preferably staggered with respect to the adjacent peripheral set of holes J.

As illustrative but not as a limitation of the invention, the holes in each successive spray member, say 22 and 24, proceeding from tube section 12 to end cap 18, may be inclined at an angle to axis X of about 1 to about 4 less than the angle of the holes of the preceding spray member 20 and 22, respectively, to such axis, for example, the spray holes 26 of spray member 20 may be disposed at an angle say of about 86 to the longitudinal axis X, the spray holes 28 of spray member 22 at an angle of about 84 to the axis X, and the spray holes 30 of spray member 24 at an angle of about 82 to longitudinal axis X. Under these conditions angle L is 4, angle M is 6 and angle N is 8.

In use, the spray nozzle 10 is mounted in the top of a tank 32 which is to be cleaned by cleaning solution discharged through the spray holes 26, 28 and 30 of the spray nozzle. According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, where a single spray nozzle 10 is used, the spray nozzle is mounted preferably in the center of the top of tank 32, and can be permanently connected to the top of the tank as by welding the extreme lower end of the tubular section 12, indicated at 34, to the top 36 of the tank. The spray nozzle is so positioned that the longitudinal axis X of the spray nozzle is normal or perpendicular to the horizontal central axis Y of tank 32. Mounted as illustrated in FIG. 3, it will be observed that substantially only the spray section 14 of the spray noz zle depends into the top of the tank. So positioned, the lower end of the spray nozzle is generally usually above the working level of the solution normally contained in the tank, so that the spray section of the nozzle does not become contaminated or coated with the solutions normally stored in the tank.

When the clearing spray nozzle is employed for conveying cleaning solution to the interior of tank 32 for removal of soil or deposits from the surface of the tank, the cleaning solution is conveyed via a pipe 38 which is connected to the fitting 16 of the nozzle, to the interior of the nozzle tube 12 and then to the spray section 14 from which the cleaning solution is then discharged via the spray openings 26, 28 and 30 into the upper portion of tank 32. As particularly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the spray streams which issue from the openings 26, 28 and 30 travel outwards and slightly upwards as result of the inclination of the spray holes, as described above, towards the top tank surface, such spray pattern being indicated at 39 in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the cleaning liquid is supplied under suitable pressure, e.g. 20 psi, the inclination of the various discharge openings 26, 28 and 30 is such that the spray streams forming the spray pattern 39 will contact the entire upper surface 36 of tank 32 from the area 41 closely adjacent spray nozzle 10 to the areas 43 closely adjacent the ends 40 of the tank.

Thus, the top surface of the tank is contacted by the individual spray streams at progressive distances from the spray head or nozzle, producing a continuous well distributed solution flow covering the distance from the center of the tank to the ends of the spray pattern.

In this respect it will be noted that the mounting of the spray nozzle on the tank, e.g. at the location 34 of the nozzle closely adjacent to the uppermost tier or peripheral set of spray holes 26 in the uppermost spray member 20, ensures adequate coverage by cleaning solution of the peripheral area of the upper tank surface closely adjacent the nozzle 10.

Of particular significance, as shown more clearly in FIG. 4b, it is noted that the relative angularity and position of the spray holes 28 of spray member 22 with respect to longitudinal axis X, as compared to the angularity and position of spray holes 26 of the uppermost spray member 26 produces a greater trajectory of the spray streams 28 issuing from conical member 22 than streams 26' from member 20, so that such spray streams 28 strike the upper tank surface 36' in FIG. 4b outwardly from but closely adjacent to the spray streams 26' issuing from the uppermost spray holes 26, which strike the top of the tank adjacent the center thereof. Likewise, the relative angularity and position of the spray holes 30 of the lowermost spray member 24 with respect to the longitudinal axis X, as compared to the angularity of spray holes 28 and 26, increases the trajectory of the spray streams 3t) issuing from spray member 24 as compared to the streams discharged from members 22 and 20, thus ensuring that the outermost spray for the greater distance streams will strike the outermost surface areas of the top of tank 36' adjacent to the intermediate areas contacted by the spray streams 28, and adjacent to the ends 40 of the tank. Depending on the length of the tank and the angle of inclination of the spray holes 30 of spray member 24, some of the spray streams 30' may impinge on the ends 40 of the tank. As a result of the above described positioning of the spray nozzle in the tank and the above described angularity feature of the spray holes, and also as result of the staggering of the adjacent sets of peripheral spray holes, the entire upper surface of the tank is covered by the sprays of cleaning solution issuing from the spray nozzle, and is thoroughly washed, and the cleaning solution which impinges directly on the top of the tank then flows down to the ends 40 thereof to clean the ends fo the tank, draining to the bottom thereof. The disposition of the spray bores 26, 28, 3t) perpendicular to the outer conical surface of spray members 20, 22 and 24, respectively, tends to reduce friction at the discharge ends of the spray bores, and facilitates proper orientation of the direction of the spray streams as above described.

The shallow angle at which the spray streams strike the top tank surface causes them to fan out in long streams (see FIG. 4) which travel along the top at high velocity and then flow down the side walls. Concentration of the flow along the top, with the subsequent flow down the sides gives maximum solution delivery to each square foot of surface. There is much less bounce-spray and splash produced than in conventional spray devices whose sprays strike the top of the tank at highly acute angles.

Referring now to FIG. 4a, this is a modification of the spray nozzle of FIG. 1, wherein the spray nozzle has mounted thereon an adapter 50 in the form of a flange. Such adapter is mounted as by welding or force fit around the upper end of the tube section 12 of the nozzle, closely adjacent the fitting 16. A sleeve 52 is positioned axially about the tube section 12 of the nozzle and is connected at its upper end to the adapter 56, by a clamp indicated at 57. As best shown in FIG. 3, the sleeve 52 has a flange 53 at its upper end. A gasket 55 is positioned over and in engagement with the flange 53, and the adapter 50 is in contact with the gasket 55. The clamp 57 holds the assembly including members 50, 53 and 55 tightly together. This spray nozzle unit including the spray nozzle 10, adapter 50 and sleeve 52, can be permanently mounted in the top 36' of a tank 40, at the center of the tank as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4, by connecting the lower end of sleeve 52, e.g. as by welding at 59 to the outer periphery 54 of an aperture 56 in the top of the tank, said aperture having a diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of sleeve 52. It will be understood, of course, that the lower end of sleeve 52 can be connected by means other than welding e.g. by screw threads to the top 36' of the tank.

It will be noted that the sleeve has an axial length such that the lower end of the sleeve extends to a position adjacent the lower end of the tubular section 12 of the nozzle and just above the spray section 14 thereof. As mounted in the manner shown in FIG. 4a, it will be seen that substantially only the spray section 14 extends into the upper portion of the tank, as shown for example in FIG. 3, and that the axis X of the spray nozzle is positioned substantially normal to the horizontal axis indicated at Y of tank 40'. Positioned in this manner it will thus be seen that the uppermost tier or peripheral set A of spray holes 26 in the top spray member 20 are located just below the top 36 of the tank, the distance of'such first row of spray holes 26 from the top of the tank being such that when cleaning fluid is passed through the spray nozzle and discharged from said first row of holes 26, the issuing spray will strike the top 36' of the tank just beyond the annulus 58 formed between the tube section 12 of the nozzle and the sleeve 52. Such spray streams will thus impinge on the top surface 36 of the tank in the area closely adjacent such annulus while the spray streams issuing from the spray holes in the tiers or peripheral sets of holes positioned successively below the top tier A will strike the upper tank surface at progressively greater distance from the center of the tank. In this manner all areas ofthe upper surface of the tank will be covered by cleaning solution, as previously described in connection with FIGS. 3, 4, and 4b.

It will also be noted that the upper portion of tubular section 12 of the nozzle below but closely adjacent to the adapter 59 is provided with a peripheral set of holes 60. Thus, as cleaning solution is sprayed from the spray holes in the spray section 14 of the nozzle, streams of cleaning solution will also issue from the hole 60 into the upper end of the annulus 58, such streams impinging against the inner surface of sleeve 52 and flowing down such surface into the tank to thereby clean the inside of sleeve 52 as the cleaning solution also operates on the inside surface of the tank.

FIGS. 4b and 5 show a modification of the sleeve and adapter elements of FIG. 4a. In FIG. 4b the adapter 62 is provided with a plurality, shown as 3 in number, of peripherally spaced threaded holes 64 adapted to receive set screws 66 for connecting the sleeve 68 to the adapter. For this purpose, the sleeve 68 has a plurality of sets of peripheral holes, e.g., 70, 71 and 72, to receive such set screws. It will be seen that the peripheral sets of holes 70, 71 and 72 are spaced axially along the sleeve and thereby permit adjustment of the depth of insertion of the nozzle 10 into the tank 36'. The sleeve 68 is welded as at 73 to the periphery of a hole drilled in the top of the tank.

In connection with the mounting of the spray nozzle in the top of the tank with the top of the spray section 14 just below the surface of the tank, such positioning is of importance because if the spray section is installed too low in the tank, a space will be left around the nozzle which is not contacted and cleaned by cleaning solution and if such spray section is installed too high, in the modification shown in FIGS. 40. and 4b some spray streams will go up into the annulus 58, disrupting the spray pattern and reducing the spray coverage and the spray effectiveness.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a modification of a spray nozzle 10, wherein the end cap is removable. In this modification, end cap 74 has a bayonet slot 76 therein arranged to receive a pin 78 fixed in the lower body portion 80 of the spray nozzle 10, such pin being positioned perpendicular to the axis of the spray nozzle. A depending handle 82 is connected to the end cap and is manually operable to remove and replace end cap 74 on the spray nozzle, for purposes of inspection and cleaning the inside of the nozzle.

It will be understood that various modifications of the spray nozzle and associated equipment can be made. Thus, for example, the number of spray members such as 20, 22 and 24 forming the spray section 14 of the nozzle can be varied as desired, and the number of peripheral sets of spray holes such as 26 in each of the spray members can likewise be varied as desired. The holes in each set of peripheral holes such as A, B C etc. of the respective spray members, may if desired, be in substantial alignment, rather than staggered. Also, the relative angularity or inclination of the spray holes in the respective spray members can be varied as desired to obtain the proper spray trajectories and efiicient cleaning of the tank, according to the principles of the invention, the relative inclination of the spray holes in the respective spray members varying in the manner described previously.

Although in FIGS. 3 and 4 only one spray nozzle has been shown mounted in the top of a tank, it will be understood that when a center agitator is provided in the tank or a longer tank is employed, such nozzles may be employed in multiple with distances between spray nozzles equalized to provide uniform spray coverage in the manner above described.

The spray nozzle and spray nozzle units described herein can be employed for cleaning tanks, vats, and equipment of horizontal or vertical, cylindrical, square or rectangular shape, with dome or hip roofs.

While I have described particular embodiments of my invention for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that various modifications and adaptations thereof may be made within the spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A spray nozzle comprising a tube section, a hollow spray section integrally connected to and in communication with one end of said tube section, and a fitting connected to the other end of said tube section and adapted for connection to a conduit for conveying liquid to said nozzle, said spray section comprising an end cap and a plurality of successive integral hollow spray members positioned between said end cap and said one end of said tube section, each of said spray members having a plurality of sets of peripherally spaced spray holes therein communicating with the interior of said spray members, each of said sets of holes being spaced along the longitudinal axis of said nozzle from the adjacent set of holes, the holes in each set of peripherally spaced holes of each spray member being inclined at about the same substantial acute angle of less than 90 from said longitudinal axis, the holes in each successive spray member proceeding from the spray member adjacent said tube section to the spray member adjacent said end cap being inclined at a slightly smaller acute angle to said longitudinal axis than the holes in the preceding spray member.

2. A spray nozzle as defined in claim 1, said integral spray members each having a frusto conical outer'surface, the base portion of each of said conical surfaces being positioned at that end of the cone more closely adjacent to the end cap of the spray nozzle, the conically shaped surface of each of said spray members being inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said spray nozzle such that the peripherally spaced holes in each spray member are positioned normal to an element of the outer conical surface of said spray member.

3. A spray nozzle as defined in claim 2, wherein the 8 holes in each of said spray members are inclined at an angle less than but not less than about 70 to the longitudinal axis of said nozzle.

4. A spray nozzle as defined in claim 3, the holes in each successive spray member proceeding from the spray member adjacent said tube section to the spray member adjacent said end cap being inclined at an angle to said longitudinal axis, of about 1 to about 4 less than the corresponding angle of the holes in the preceding spray member, the spray holes in each set of peripherally spaced holes of each spray member being staggered with respect to the spray holes of the adjacent set of peripherally spaced holes in said spray member.

5. In combination, a spray nozzle, an adapter and a sleeve, said spray nozzle comprising a tube section, a hollow spray section integrally connected to and in communication with one end of said tube section, and a fitting connected to the other end of said tube section and adapted for connection to a conduit for conveying liquid to said nozzle, said spray section comprising an end cap and a plurality of successive integral hollow spray members positioned between said end cap and said one end of said tube section, each of said spray members having a plurality of sets of peripherally spaced spray holes therein communicating with the interior of said spray members, each of said sets of holes being spaced along the longitudinal axis of said nozzle from the adjacent set of holes, the holes in each set of peripherally spaced holes of each spray member being inclined at about the same substantial acute angle of less than 90 from said longitudinal axis, the holes in each successive spray member proceeding from the spray member adjacent said tube section to the spray member adjacent said end cap being inclined at a slightly smaller acute angle to said longitudinal axis than the holes in the preceding spray member, said adapter being in the form of a flange mounted on the exterior surface of said tube section of said spray nozzle adjacent said fitting, said sleeve being connected at one end to said adapter and having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of said tube section, said sleeve being positioned about said tube section and extending axially thereof to a position closely adjacent to that end of said spray section which is connected to said tube section.

6. A spray unit adapted to be mounted in the top of a tank and to depend into the interior of the tank, means for mounting said spray unit perpendicular to the horizontal axis of said tank, said spray unit comprised of a spray nozzle, an adapter, and a sleeve, said spray nozzle comprising a tube section, a hollow spray section integrally connected to and in communication with one end of said tube section, and a fitting connected to the other end of said tube section and adapted for connection to a conduit for conveying liquid to said nozzle, said spray section comprising an end cap and a plurality of successive integral hollow spray members positioned between said end cap and said one end of said tube section, each of said spray members having a plurality of sets of peripherally spaced spray holes therein communicating with the interior of said spray members, each such set of peripherally spaced holes being positioned such that the outer ends thereof are in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said nozzle, each of said sets of holes being spaced along the longitudinal axis of said nozzle from the adjacent set of holes, the holes in each set of peripherally spaced holes of each spray member being inclined at about the same substantial acute angle of less than 90 from said longitudinal axis, the holes in each successive spray member proceeding from the spray member adjacent said tube section to the spray member adjacent said end cap being inclined at a slightly smaller acute angle to said longitudinal axis than the holes in the preceding spray member, said adapter being in the form of a flange mounted on the exterior surface of said tube section of said spray nozzle adjacent said fitting, said sleeve being connected at one end to said adapter and having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of said tube section, said sleeve being positioned about said tube section and extending axially thereof to a position closely adjacent to that end of said spray section which is connected to said tube section, the lower end of said sleeve adjacent said spray section being connected to the top of said tank, the major portion of said tube section and said fitting being disposed externally of said tank, and said spray section of said nozzle being positioned within said tank, the top set of peripherally spaced spray holes in the top spray member adjacent said tube section being positioned a distance closely adjacent the top inner surface of said tank, such that the spray pattern formed by the liquid streams discharged from said spray holes can be oriented so as to contact 10 substantially completely a predetermined upper surface area of said tank including the area of said surface closely adjacent the spray nozzle, and outwardly therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,359,171 Tarbox Sept. 26, 1944 2,359,690 Tarbox Oct. 3, 1944 2,813,753 Roberts Nov. 19, 1957 2,954,038 Girard Sept. 27, 1960 2,965,308 Holdren Dec. 20, 1960 3,031,148 Holdren Apr. 24, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,997 Germany July 11, 1881 14,371 Great Britain June 29, 1896 

1. A SPRAY NOZZLE COMPRISING A TUBE SECTION, A HOLLOW SPRAY SECTION INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH ONE END OF SAID TUBE SECTION, AND A FITTING CONNECTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID TUBE SECTION AND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A CONDUIT FOR CONVEYING LIQUID TO SAID NOZZLE, SAID SPRAY SECTION COMPRISING AN END CAP AND A PLURALITY OF SUCCESSIVE INTEGRAL HOLLOW SPRAY MEMBERS POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID END CAP AND SAID ONE END OF SAID TUBE SECTION, EACH OF SAID SPRAY MEMBERS HAVING A PLURALITY OF SETS OF PERIPHERALLY SPACED SPRAY HOLES THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID SPRAY MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID SETS OF HOLES BEING SPACED ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID NOZZLE FROM THE ADJACENT SET OF HOLES, THE HOLES IN EACH SET OF PERIPHERALLY SPACED HOLES OF EACH SPRAY MEMBER BEING INCLINED AT ABOUT THE SAME SUBSTANTIAL ACUTE ANGLE OF LESS THAN 90* FROM SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS, THE HOLES IN EACH SUCCESSIVE SPRAY MEMBER PROCEEDING FROM THE SPRAY MEMBER ADJACENT SAID TUBE SECTION TO THE SPRAY MEMBER ADJACENT SAID END CAP BEING INCLINED AT A SLIGHTLY SMALLER ACUTE ANGLE TO SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS THAN THE HOLES IN THE PRECEDING SPRAY MEMBER. 